Social Activities
A range of social events will take place throughout the week at NAM2026, providing opportunities to connect with colleagues, exchange ideas, and enjoy Birmingham’s vibrant atmosphere. Each evening offers a different experience, whether you are looking to network, catch up with friends, or simply relax after a long day of talks. Explore the events below and make the most of your conference experience by joining some of our exciting social events.
Welcome Reception (Sunday 19th July)
The NAM26 welcome reception will be held on Sunday the 19th of July from 18:00. Please join us in the Teaching and Learning Centre for an evening of drinks and mingling.
Quiz Night (Monday 20th July)
Want to flex your knowledge of trivia, obscure facts, pop culture, music and beyond? Team up with colleagues from your institution or join forces with other quiz whizzes from across the community and take on the NAM Quiz 2026. Hosted by resident quiz masters Andrés and
Jenni, this event promises fun, challenging and creative quiz rounds. Please sign up in advance using the form below to help us gauge numbers.
Once NAM has begun, you can sign up at reception, or walk-ins are welcome!
Please contact Andrés Ponte Pérez (aip981@student.bham.ac.uk) or Jenni French (j.french.4@bham.ac.uk) if you have any questions.
Lapworth Museum of Geology (Monday 20th July)
A visit to the Lapworth Museum of Geology is planned for Monday evening. Check back later for full details.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Just a 30-minute walk from the University campus, the city's beautiful Botanical Gardens offer a perfect opportunity to relax and explore. Open daily, the
gardens feature stunning landscapes, making them an ideal destination after a day of research presentations and networking. Admission is £10 per person, and no advance booking is required.
Please note that the last entry is at 5:30 pm, with the gardens closing at 6:00 pm.
Football Tournament (Tuesday 21st July)
The 2026 instalment of the renowned NAM football tournament will be held on the Bournbrook 3G sports pitches on Tuesday 21st July!
The tournament will take place across four pitches and will kick off at 18:30. 5-a-side teams playing will first play in a round-robin group phase, with the top 2 teams from each group proceeding to a pair of semi-finals and a medal match. The champion will cement their place in the annals of NAM history, with their team's name engraved on the NAM Cup!
Everyone is welcome, regardless of skill level or footballing ability – please come along and have fun! Teams representing institutions are encouraged, but if your institution does not have a team, please sign-up as an individual and we will form teams on the day. This is a great way to make new friends and connections! If you are unsure about playing, please come along to spectate and cheer on the teams!
Specific details about the length and number of matches will be finalised once sign-ups are confirmed. To help us organise this, please sign up in advance using the form below (only one person needs to fill out the form for a full/partial team):
We encourage appropriate footwear and kit. We will provide footballs, bibs and whistles. A Birmingham representative will guide anyone who wants to walk down (it is an approximately 10-minute walk), leaving at around 6pm from the Teaching and Learning Building (we will confirm on the day). There is also parking (including disabled parking) available next to the pitches.
Please contact Andrés Ponte Pérez (aip981@student.bham.ac.uk) if you have any questions.
Netball Tournament (Tuesday 21st July)
We are hosting a netball tournament on the courts on campus from ~6:30-10:00pm. We encourage teams of mixed gender and ability to participate – all skill levels are welcome! We will provide an overview of the rules for those unfamiliar at the start of the session. Please sign up here - you can sign up as a whole team (7 players), part of a team, or just individually. If you are singing up a full/partial team, only one person needs to fill in the form as the primary contact. For those without a full team we will sort you into one. Please bring appropriate clothing and footwear (sportswear + trainers), and snacks!
Please contact Maddy Scott (mgs947@student.bham.ac.uk) or Yasmin Davis (yxd280@student.bham.ac.uk) if you have any questions.
Public Debate (Tuesday 21st July)
A public debate is planned for Tuesday evening. Check back later for full details.
Public Talk at the Exchange (Wednesday 22nd July)
A public talk is planned to be held at the Exchange in the city centre on Wednesday evening. Check back later for full details.
Conference Dinner (Thursday 23rd July)
The NAM conference dinner and RAS awards ceremony will be on Thursday the 23rd of July in the University of Birmingham’s Great Hall on the Edgbaston
campus, around 2 minutes’ walk from the conference centre. We will start the evening with a drinks reception at 6:30pm followed by dinner from 7pm.
Tickets cost £50 and can be purchased from the registration portal. Conference registration is not required to attend. Please select Fee waiver (Day) during checkout to purchase a ticket without registration and write ‘Conference dinner ticket’ in the fee waiver justification box.